Meaning of great in English | Powered by Free Dictionary API

noun

• A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.

  Example: Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.

• The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.

• (in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.

  Example: My three-greats grandmother.

adjective

• Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

  Example: A great storm is approaching our shores.

• Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

  Example: the great auk

• (qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

  Example: great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather

• (followed by 'with') Pregnant; large with young; full of.

  Example: great with child

• (except with 'friend' and similar words such as 'mate','buddy') Intimate; familiar.

• Extreme or more than usual.

  Example: great worry

• Of significant importance or consequence; important.

  Example: a great decision

• (applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

  Example: a great deed

• Impressive or striking.

  Example: a great show of wealth

• Much in use; favoured.

  Example: Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.

• (applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

  Example: a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.

• Title referring to an important leader.

  Example: Alexander the Great

• Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

  Example: He's not a great one for reading.

• (often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.

  Example: You are great at singing.

• Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic (from 1848).

  Example: Dinner was great.

• Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

  Example: Great Scott!

adverb

• Very well (in a very satisfactory manner).

  Example: Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.

interjection

• Expression of gladness and content about something.

  Example: Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.

• Sarcastic inversion thereof.

  Example: Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.